2nd BJP minister quits UP cabinet in 24 hours. 'Rethink', says Deputy Chief Minister

Dara Singh Chauhan slammed the UP govt saying it failed to serve Dalits and backward communities.

Pic Courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: A day after Swami Prasad Maurya, Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister and BJP leader Dara Singh Chauhan stepped down from his post on Wednesday (January 12).

In his resignation letter to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chauhan alleged that the Yogi Adityanath-led government had "failed to address the aspirations of Dalits, OBCs and weaker sections of society and was apathetic towards the problems of the youth." 

Uttar Pradesh cabinet Minister and BJP leader Dara Singh Chauhan quits from his post pic.twitter.com/PWvCNUq4zm — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 12, 2022

"BJP formed govt with the support of Dalits, backward communities...but didn't serve them well, which is why I resigned... Next step would be to hold discussions with my society people and then take a call for future course of action," BJP leader Dara Singh Chauhan, who held the Environment and Forest portfolio in UP cabinet, was quoted as saying by ANI. 

Chauhan is a former BSP MP who joined the BJP in 2015. This comes as BJP has been witnessing a flurry of resignations since Tuesday. Besides Swami Prasad Maurya, five more MLAs have quit so far. 

In a bid to coax Chauhan, UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya tweeted urging the MLA to reconsider. "It hurts if any member of the family goes astray, I would only urge the respected leaders that if they ride on a sinking boat, it would be their loss. Big brother Shri Dara Singh ji, you should reconsider your decision," Yogi Adityanath's deputy wrote. 

परिवार का कोई सदस्य भटक जाये तो दुख होता है जाने वाले आदरणीय महानुभावों को मैं बस यही आग्रह करूँगा कि डूबती हुई नांव पर सवार होनें से नुकसान उनका ही होगा
बड़े भाई श्री दारा सिंह जी आप अपने फैसले पर पुनर्विचार करिये — Keshav Prasad Maurya (@kpmaurya1) January 12, 2022

The development comes in the wake of crucial UP polls. The state will vote in seven phases beginning from February 10. The counting of votes will be done on March 10. 

(With agency inputs)